Overview
- Offers a comprehensive introduction to modern astronomical spatial-temporal reference systems
- Addresses important applications of highly accurate geodesy relevant for mankind
- Provides exercises with solutions, complemented by computer algebra files of various models presented in the book
- Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras
Part of the book series: Astronomy and Astrophysics Library (AAL)
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Table of contents (11 chapters)
Keywords
- Astrometry satellites
- Celestial Reference Systems
- Celestial mechanics
- Geodesy applied
- Hipparcos Satellite
- IAU International Astronomical Union
- Precession of Earth
- Space Time reference frames
- Spatial coordinate systems
- Star Maps
- Theory behind GPS
- Universal Time definition
- accuracy of clocks
- precision time keeping
About this book
The high accuracy of modern astronomical spatial-temporal reference systems has made them considerably complex. This book offers a comprehensive overview of such systems. It begins with a discussion of ‘The Problem of Time’, including recent developments in the art of clock making (e.g., optical clocks) and various time scales. The authors address the definitions and realization of spatial coordinates by reference to remote celestial objects such as quasars. After an extensive treatment of classical equinox-based coordinates, new paradigms for setting up a celestial reference system are introduced that no longer refer to the translational and rotational motion of the Earth. The role of relativity in the definition and realization of such systems is clarified.
The topics presented in this book are complemented by exercises (with solutions). The authors offer a series of files, written in Maple, a standard computer algebra system, to help readers get a feel for the various models and orders of magnitude.
Beyond astrometry, the main fields of application of high-precision astronomical spatial-temporal reference systems and frames are navigation (GPS, interplanetary spacecraft navigation) and global geodynamics, which provide a high-precision Celestial Reference System and its link to any terrestrial spatial-temporal reference system. Mankind’s urgent environmental questions can only be answered in the context of appropriate reference systems in which both aspects, space and time, are realized with a sufficiently high level of accuracy. This book addresses all those interested in high-precision reference systems and the various techniques (GPS, Very Long Baseline Interferometry, Satellite Laser Ranging, Lunar Laser Ranging) necessary for their realization, including the production and dissemination of time signals.
Authors and Affiliations
About the authors
Dr. Ing. Ralf Langhans is working in the field of planetary geodesy and has been teaching astronomical geodesy and various courses in engineering geodesy.
Bibliographic Information
Book Title: Space-Time Reference Systems
Authors: Michael Soffel, Ralf Langhans
Series Title: Astronomy and Astrophysics Library
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-30226-8
Publisher: Springer Berlin, Heidelberg
eBook Packages: Physics and Astronomy, Physics and Astronomy (R0)
Copyright Information: Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013
Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-642-30225-1Published: 18 October 2012
Softcover ISBN: 978-3-642-44313-8Published: 09 November 2014
eBook ISBN: 978-3-642-30226-8Published: 19 October 2012
Series ISSN: 0941-7834
Series E-ISSN: 2196-9698
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: XIV, 314
Topics: Astronomy, Observations and Techniques, Geophysics/Geodesy, Aerospace Technology and Astronautics, Space Sciences (including Extraterrestrial Physics, Space Exploration and Astronautics), Measurement Science and Instrumentation, Classical and Quantum Gravitation, Relativity Theory